Creative associations of folk paper-cutting

In Chinese folk paper-cutting, techniques such as metaphor, personification, and exaggeration are often used. These techniques come from peoples associations with the objects being described. Generally speaking, things that appear simultaneously or one after another in space and practice, and are similar or opposite in external characteristics and meaning are reflected in the human brain and established connections. As long as one of the things appears in the future, it will cause the same thing in the mind. The emergence of another thing that is related to it is association. The methods of association include close association, contrast association, similar association, and relationship association.

Paper-cut lotus

Pomegranates, which are commonly seen in paper-cutting, have rich meanings. The pomegranates have the most seeds, one next to the other, connected layer by layer with the pomegranate core as the center, and arranged tightly. People give it beautiful associations, making its shape become unity and unity. On the other hand, when the pomegranate skin is ripe, it is the same color as the seeds inside. Unlike other fruits, the color of the inside and outside is inconsistent, which also symbolizes that the outside and the inside are the same. Another example is the persimmon, which alleges that everything goes well; the peach symbolizes wealth and longevity. In addition to single objects, folk artists also pay attention to the matching of objects, animals and plants; animals and animals; plants and plants. Different artistic combinations give people different associations, or people use paper-cutting art to combine their beautiful images. The association is conveyed in order to express the complete meaning and express the expectations in the heart to the maximum extent.

Click to learn paper-cutting tutorial: Paper-cut Lotus

For example, cutting a magpie and a plum blossom is called "Happiness on the Eyebrows"; cutting a pomegranate and lotus flower is called a "destined relationship" for a couple; cutting a butterfly peony is called "Butterfly Love Flower"; cutting a sika deer and crane is called "Crane" "Deer springs together"; cutting a lantern and ears of wheat is called "a good harvest"; cutting a peach and a bee is called "a good life". Paper-cutting usually depicts common objective objects in life, such as people, animals, plants, flowers, etc. When people face them, they instinctively make associations. Associations bring peoples realm from the objective to the abstract.To the subjective, from reality to ideal, through homophony, symbolism and other techniques, a metaphorical artistic picture is formed.

Author: Yu Dali, School of Art and Design, Nanchang Aviation Industry Institute